Contentious carbon tax bill passed by Alberta legislature

The Alberta government passed its contentious carbon tax bill Tuesday but opposition MLAs decried the NDP'sunwillingness to accept amendments.

Premier RachelNotleyclosed the debate on the bill by stating she wasproud of the legislation. The bill passed third and final reading by a margin of 42-29.

"The action by this government with respect to climate change is one that is long, long, long overdue in this province," Notleytold the legislature.

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"Albertans told us in the last election that theywere worried about climate change, that they were worried about the state of the environment,that they were worried about Alberta's reputation internationally and nationally, and that they were worried about their future as a result."

The tax, which comes into effect Jan. 1 next year, will be paid by Albertans through their home heating bills and at the gas pumps. Lower-income Albertans will startreceiving rebates in January.

The tax is expected to collect $3 billion in revenues in the first two years, which the government plans to invest in green infrastructure like transit andprojects to reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency.

MLAs sat until 4:37 a.m Tuesday while the bill went through the committee of the whole. Only one of 21 amendments proposed by the opposition last night were passed.

Government MLAs defeated amendments that would have disclosed the amount ofcarbon tax on fuel receipts, set performance measures to test the effectiveness of the tax, and provided exemptions or rebates to charities.

'A heavy heart'

When it came time to pass the bill, not a single opposition member voted with the government.

The bill was opposed "with a heavy heart"by Liberal Leader DavidSwann, who lost his job as medical officer of health for thePalliserHealth Authorityin 2002for supporting the Kyoto Accord on climate change.

"On behalf of allAlbertanswe deserve a plan that includes explicit goals, performancemeasures, monitoring, a reporting commitment that's independent and that ensures that whetherit's a New Democrat government or not, there's full accountability toAlbertans, who are beingasked to pay for this," he told the legislature.

Alberta Party Leader Greg Clark said the lack of information about how the money was spent and the government's unwillingness to accept amendments were factors in his decision to vote against the bill.

"It's disappointing that the government would not consider what I think are thoughtful amendments. We're trying to make the bill better," Clark said.

"I've been very clear that I support a carbon tax in principle. I couldn't support this carbon tax. Too many questions, and they didn't accept any of what I think are reasonable amendments to make the bill better."

The official OppositionWildroseParty also voted against the bill. That party's MLAs saidthey opposethetax because they thinkit will place an additional burden on families struggling with the province's economic downturn.

Wildrose Leader Brian Jean saidthe carbon tax will hurt vulnerable people and those who help them.

"We think there should be an exemption, obviously,for non-profits, for charities, for schools, for hospitals, for municipal buildings, for municipalities, all of these things, because Mr. Speaker, they're just taking money from one side and putting it to another in their own slush funds, and we don't think that's helpful," he said during the debate.

The carbon tax is a key part of Alberta's plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The carbon tax legislationwas the last of 23 bills passed by the government in the spring session. MLAs will return to the legislature in thefall.